Abstract

This chapter examines the phenomenon of stardom and celebrity in contemporary popular culture, focusing on the screen media industries. The chapter begins by looking at the emergence of celebrity culture in the early twentieth century, before examining what constitutes 'stardom' or 'celebrity', what role stars and celebrities play for the screen media and entertainment industries, and how audiences engage with them. The chapter then overviews three key approaches to studying celebrity—specifically, the semiotic, ideological, and political economy approaches—before concluding with a case study of Leonardo DiCaprio.